Truth be told, I'm not entirely sure what will be involved with this story. Hell, I'm not even sure if it'll be finished. But I'll try my best. Here's the disclaimers for what I DO know: Kingdom Hearts is owned by SquareEnix, and maybe Disney, but definitely not me. The Dark Tower Series, featured at least in this chapter, is owned by it's creator, Stephen King, and not me.

Also, I don't own the song One Last Breath, by Creed.

I own the character of Sam, as well as any others I take credit for in the chapters where they appear.

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I stand, panting hard, as the key turns in the lock. A sound, like thunder, as the tumblers turn. I let go of the key, falling back against cool, charcoal-grey stone. I wipe a hand across my forehead, looking around at those who stand nearby.

Riku, surveying us all just as I am. Odd to think that when this started, he scared me. Now, I trust him with my life, and I know that he trusts me with his. I feel like if anyone else could have brought us here, it would have been him.

Sora, his brown hair dripping with sweat, still holding onto his keyblade. I can't say I blame him. He was the first of all of us to wield one of them, and here, so close to never needing it again, it just seems...right, somehow, that he should let go of his last.

Kairi, both beautiful and fierce. I feel like out of all of us, she's the one I understand best. Probably because she brought me into this group in the first place. Her heart and charisma have held us together through all of this.

I look down at my hands, wondering how I managed to pull this whole thing off. I've gained so much in all this, but at the same time, I fear that part of me might be lost. Lost, after all I've done, all I've had to do. None of it was easy. ALL of it was necessary.

I rise slowly to my feet, turning to look over the edge. My hands rest on the cool stone as I look down at the black swarm below. There was no grand battle. No valiant last stand. The war we waited for, the war we prepared for...it never came. Instead, just as they always did, they came out of nowhere, surrounding us. It took all we had to hold them off. To cut our way through to the base of this tower.

I remember when we all thought it was only a game. That it was all pretend. Kid's stuff, ya know? But we were all wrong...all of us, so damned wrong. I close my eyes, thinking of all those lost in the fray. Many of them never even knew it was happening. I've lost alot of people to come this far. People I cared a damn lot about. But somehow, through it all, I managed to stay alive. To stay human. Sadly, that's more than alot of people can say.

I look over my shoulder, at Kairi. I know, now, why Sora and Riku would give everything they have to protect her. To be honest, after all that's happened, so would I. She's always been strong, and kind, and...perfect, when you get right down to it. I know that Riku and Sora would agree.

I close my eyes, breathing deeply. At this height, the only sound is the wind, and the song. The song of a thousand worlds, hurting and hoping for salvation. I smile slightly, knowing that what the worlds have hoped for is soon at hand.

I open my eyes, bleary-eyed, but smiling slightly as I remember that detail. Everything starts over, now. But this time, we make our own rules. The four of us, on top of this tower, in the middle of a field of roses and shadows...we can change it all. Make it so it never happened. So that nobody died. So that those monsters down there...never existed.

I turn my eyes to the horizon, where the sun sets, seeming to set the earth and sky ablaze. I can hear the wind pick up, swirling around me, around us all, as the sun sinks lower. Lower. Lower still. Finally, the last edge of the fiery disc disappears below the horizon. The last light of day disappears from the world. And then...nothing.

But it's not really nothing, as much as...the absence of everything else. Everything else but us. We all stand, the four of us, and grasp the great keys again. But then...I stop. And so does everything else. I turn my head.

I look at you.

You hear my voice, clear as can be, echo softly in your mind.

So. By this point, my guess is that you're confused. Dumbfounded. At a loss. Drawing a blank. I could go on. But I won't. Not alot of time, but I think I got that point across already.

Do you know why you're here? I do. You're here to hear my story. It's not too late to turn back, if you want. But I hope you don't. I hope you keep reading.

Got questions? Good. I should have answers. But you'll have to wait for some of those answers. You can't jump around in a story like this. Best to start at the beginning. So come on. Turn the page. Keep reading.

Get ready for the story of a lifetime.

For my story.

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Well, all I can hope for is some reviews. I'd like honest and constructive, please. Any/all flames will be used to keep me warm at night. Especially once the next Wisconsin winter rolls around.